Sam Kerr is ready to re-join the ranks of co-host Australia ahead of their must-win match against .
The star missed Australia’s shock 3-2 defeat to Nigeria but is available for Monday’s make-or-break Group B game against the Olympic champions.
‘I’m going to be there,’ Kerr said Saturday. ‘I’m going to be ready.’
The 29-year-old trained in boots while participating in her first practice session since on the eve of the July 20 tournament opener.
She hasn’t yet played a minute of a home but assured supporters she’s on track to feature for the rest of the tournament at a news conference at the Matildas’ camp in Brisbane.
‘I would love to tell you guys everything. It’s going to be down to the wire,’ she said. ‘I’m definitely going to be available, but how we decide to use that is not to be given to the opposition.’
Asked again if she would definitely be fit to play, Kerr responded: ‘Yes.’
‘I’m feeling good. I was out on the pitch today. I’m as good as I can be.’
Kerr injured her left calf in a practice session ahead of , but it didn’t become public knowledge until an hour before kick-off when her name was missing from the team sheet for the starting line-up.
The almost 76,000-strong crowd at Stadium Australia had been buzzing until the news went around that Kerr would be missing the game.
Her injury status has been a daily topic of news in Australia, where she’s been the face of the promotional campaign for the World Cup.
So her availability for the Canada game is a genuine boost. The Matildas captain is Australia’s all-time leading international scorer with 63 goals in 121 career appearances.
‘Mentally, it’s massive’, Matildas defender Ellie Carpenter said.
‘It brings so much to our team and obviously also a lot to the opposition knowing that we have Sam available for this game.’
Carpenter confirmed that Mary Fowler also took part in training on Saturday and will be available to take on Canada after recovering from a concussion she sustained at practice two days before the 3-2 loss to Nigeria.
‘The way she strikes the ball, the way she can change the game at any given moment,’ Carpenter said. ‘We really missed her the other night.’
While the Matildas will have both of their leading forwards available for the first time in the tournament, there’s no been indication as to whether they will start or how many minutes they can play.
‘Having Sam available, having Mary available, they’re two of our world-class strikers back in the selection pool,’ Carpenter said.
‘Having them coming into our squad is a massive boost.’
If the Australians beat Canada in Melbourne, they are guaranteed a spot in the round of 16 for the fifth consecutive time.
A loss could result in Australia becoming the first host nation eliminated in the group stage of a Women’s World Cup.
Co-host New Zealand, playing Sunday, are in the same situation. A draw would leave Australia needing Ireland to beat Nigeria for the Matildas to have a chance to advance.
‘The last time we played Canada we didn’t get the result but we had four or five players out missing,’ Kerr said. ‘We feel really confident. We’ve grown so much over the last year.’
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